Lancaster, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Lancaster, California: median public in-state tuition $1,124 (-79.6% vs national median) median graduate debt $12,018 (-9.4% vs U.S.) 14,806 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 6 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 14,806 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $1,124 (-79.6% vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $26,717 (+168.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $12,018 (-9.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,537
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 34.4%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Lancaster serve students across California with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 6 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 14,806 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $1,124. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lancaster, California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lancaster vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, California | $1,124 | $26,717 | $12,018 | 34.4% | 14,806 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,537 | 59.0% | 2,134,322 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Lancaster, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, California | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| California (state median) | $65,668 | 90.0% | 83.8% | 3.7% | — | 74.1% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, California | $1,124 | $26,717 | $12,018 | 34.4% | 14,806 | N/A | N/A |
| Los Angeles | $16,900 | $21,711 | $18,375 | 71.7% | 120,534 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $13,284 | $23,205 | $13,000 | 69.2% | 95,661 | $66,228 | 89.4% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,674 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Fresno | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,976 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,098 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
In-state tuition: Lancaster, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lancaster, California median in-state tuition is $1,124, -79.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lancaster, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lancaster, California is $12,018 (-9.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,537.
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Lancaster, California median public in-state tuition is $1,124, about -79.6% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is -65.8%.
Median graduate debt is $12,018 (-9.4% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Lancaster, California is 34.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lancaster?
This city profile covers 6 campuses in Lancaster, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lancaster?
Median in-state tuition in Lancaster is $1,124 and median net price is $26,717. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Lancaster?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lancaster is N/A vs $65,668 for California and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lancaster colleges?
Median completer debt in Lancaster is $12,018 vs $11,537 for California and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lancaster?
Among 6 campuses in Lancaster, California, 5 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Antelope Valley Community College District, Lancaster Beauty School, and Career Care Institute.
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON